Most recent investigation found a total of 3,943 distinct metropolitan areas that had population in excess of 100,000 in the year 2000. This list or universe was obtained by combining the UN Habitat list of 4,574 cities with an updated list of 2,884 cities provided by Henderson. In this new list most double counting was eliminated, cities for which exact location could not be found were eliminated, and cities that were estimated to be part of larger metropolitan areas were eliminated as well.
It was determined that a sample of 120 cities would be adequate for deriving statistically-significant results for the universe of cities as a whole, provided it was a stratified sample, where each city in the sample represents a group of cities in the universe and is given a weight that is proportional to the share of the population of this group in the total population of the universe.
The universe of cities was divided into nine regions, representing the world region in which the city is located, according to the UN Habitat breakdown of countries.
The universe was also divided into four size classes, according to Henderson, so that the total urban population in each size class was approximately equal. This resulted in the following size categories:
To the extent possible, the cities in each of the nine regions were sampled so that there was to be an equal number of cities in each size category. The 2003 World Development Report and World Bank data for 1995 were used to obtain the classification of the universe of cities into four 2001 per-capita income groupings with reflection of Gross National Product (GNP) per capita in Purchasing Power Parities (PPP):
|
City Name |
Population 2000 |
Size Class |
Rank |
Country Name |
GNP/cap. in PPP ($) |
Income Class |
Shanghai | 12,900,000 |
4 |
1 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Beijing | 10,800,000 |
4 |
2 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Seoul | 9,887,779 |
4 |
1 |
Republic of Korea | 13,958 | 3 |
Hong Kong | 6,927,000 |
4 |
4 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Guangzhou | 3,893,000 |
3 |
9 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Pusan | 3,830,000 |
3 |
2 |
Republic of Korea | 13,958 | 3 |
Zhengzhou | 2,070,000 |
3 |
23 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Yulin | 1,558,000 |
3 |
46 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Yiyang | 1,343,000 |
2 |
67 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Leshan | 1,373,000 |
2 |
88 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Ulan Bator | 738,000 |
2 |
1 |
Mongolia | 1,491 | 1 |
Changzhi | 593,500 |
2 |
185 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Anqing | 566,100 |
2 |
196 |
China | 3,547 | 2 |
Ansan | 549,900 |
2 |
15 |
Republic of Korea | 13,958 | 3 |
Chinju | 287,100 |
1 |
24 |
China | 3,547 | 3 |
Chonan | 114,600 |
1 |
47 |
Republic of Korea | 13,958 | 3 |
City Name |
Population 2000 |
Size Class |
Rank |
Country Name |
GNP/cap. in PPP ($) |
Income Class |
Paris | 9,624,000 |
4 |
1 |
France | 23,225 |
4 |
Moscow | 9,321,000 |
4 |
1 |
Russian Fed. | 6,644 |
3 |
London | 8,219,226 |
4 |
1 |
United Kingdom | 22,652 |
4 |
Milan | 4,251,000 |
4 |
1 |
Italy | 22,875 |
4 |
Madrid | 4,072,000 |
3 |
1 |
Spain | 18,314 |
4 |
Warsaw | 2,269,000 |
3 |
1 |
Poland | 9,114 |
3 |
Vienna | 2,070,000 |
3 |
1 |
Austria | 25,694 |
4 |
Budapest | 1,825,000 |
3 |
1 |
Hungary | 11,301 |
3 |
Thessaloniki | 789,000 |
2 |
2 |
Greece | 15,280 |
3 |
Palermo | 684,300 |
2 |
7 |
Italy | 22,875 |
4 |
Sheffield | 640,048 |
2 |
9 |
United Kingdom | 22,652 |
4 |
Astrakhan | 486,100 |
1 |
36 |
Russian Fed. | 6,644 |
3 |
Leipzig | 446,491 |
1 |
19 |
Germany | 23,913 |
4 |
Le Mans | 194,825 |
1 |
34 |
France | 23,225 |
4 |
Castellon | 144,500 |
1 |
40 |
Spain | 18,314 |
4 |
Oktyabrsky | 111,500 |
1 |
147 |
Russian Fed. | 6,644 |
3 |
City Name |
Population 2000 |
Size Class |
Rank |
Country Name |
GNP/cap. in PPP ($) |
Income Class |
Mexico City | 18,100,000 |
4 |
1 |
Mexico | 8,182 |
3 |
Sao Paolo | 17,800,000 |
4 |
1 |
Brazil | 6,781 |
3 |
Buenos Aires | 12,600,000 |
4 |
1 |
Argentina | 11,131 |
3 |
Santiago | 5,538,000 |
4 |
1 |
Chile | 8,412 |
3 |
Guadalajara | 3,908,000 |
3 |
2 |
Mexico | 8,182 |
3 |
Guatemala City | 3,242,000 |
3 |
1 |
Guatemala | 3,633 |
2 |
Caracas | 3,153,000 |
3 |
1 |
Venezuela | 5,174 |
2 |
San Salvador | 1,408,000 |
2 |
1 |
El Salvador | 4,307 |
2 |
Montevideo | 1,236,000 |
2 |
1 |
Uruguay | 8,130 |
3 |
Tijuana | 1,167,000 |
2 |
7 |
Mexico | 8,182 |
3 |
Kingston | 912,500 |
2 |
1 |
Jamaica | 3,370 |
2 |
Ribeirao Preto | 502,333 |
2 |
23 |
Brazil | 6,781 |
3 |
Valledupar | 274,300 |
1 |
16 |
Colombia | 5,618 |
3 |
Guaruja | 269,104 |
1 |
70 |
Brazil | 6,781 |
3 |
Ilheus | 161,898 |
1 |
85 |
Brazil | 6,781 |
3 |
Jequie | 130,207 |
1 |
102 |
Brazil | 6,781 |
3 |
City Name |
Population 2000 |
Size Class |
Rank |
Country Name |
GNP/cap. in PPP ($) |
Income Class |
Cairo | 10,600,000 |
4 |
1 |
Egypt | 3,253 |
2 |
Alexandria | 4,113,000 |
3 |
2 |
Egypt | 3,253 |
2 |
Casablanca | 3,541,000 |
3 |
1 |
Morocco | 3,195 |
2 |
Algiers | 2,760,740 |
3 |
1 |
Algeria | 4,979 |
2 |
Marrakech | 736,500 |
2 |
4 |
Morocco | 3,195 |
2 |
Port Sudan | 384,100 |
4 |
2 |
Sudan | 1,512 |
1 |
Aswan | 219,017 |
4 |
15 |
Egypt | 3,253 |
2 |
Tebessa | 163,279 |
4 |
13 |
Algeria | 4,979 |
2 |
City Name |
Population 2000 |
Size Class |
Rank |
Country Name |
GNP/cap. in PPP ($) |
Income Class |
Tokyo | 26,400,000 |
4 |
1 |
Japan | 23,828 |
4 |
Los Angeles | 16,373,645 |
4 |
2 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
Chicago | 9,157,540 |
4 |
3 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
Philadelphia | 6,188,463 |
4 |
6 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
Houston | 4,669,571 |
4 |
10 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
Sydney | 3,664,000 |
3 |
1 |
Australia | 24,013 |
4 |
Minneapolis | 2,968,806 |
3 |
14 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
Pittsburgh | 2,385,695 |
3 |
21 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
Cincinnati | 1,979,202 |
3 |
23 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
Fukuoka | 1,341,470 |
2 |
10 |
Japan | 23.828 |
4 |
Tacoma | 700,820 |
2 |
62 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
Springfield | 591,932 |
2 |
72 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
Modesto | 446,997 |
1 |
94 |
United States | 31,338 |
4 |
St. Catharines | 389,600 |
1 |
14 |
Canada | 25,456 |
4 |
Victoria | 317,506 |
1 |
16 |
Canada | 25,456 |
4 |
Akashi | 293,117 |
1 |
60 |
Japan | 23.828 |
4 |
City Name |
Population 2000 |
Size Class |
Rank |
Country Name |
GNP/cap. in PPP ($) |
Income Class |
Mumbai | 18,100,000 |
4 |
1 |
India | 2,220 |
1 |
Kolkota | 12,900,000 |
4 |
2 |
India | 2,220 |
1 |
Dhaka | 12,300,000 |
4 |
1 |
Bangladesh | 1,427 |
1 |
Tehran | 7,225,000 |
4 |
1 |
Iran | 5,460 |
3 |
Hyderabad | 6,842,000 |
4 |
4 |
India | 2,220 |
1 |
Pune | 3,489,000 |
3 |
9 |
India | 2,220 |
1 |
Kanpur | 2,450,000 |
3 |
11 |
India | 2,220 |
1 |
Jaipur | 2,145,000 |
3 |
13 |
India | 2,220 |
1 |
Coimbatore | 1,292,000 |
2 |
23 |
India | 2,220 |
1 |
Vijayawada | 1,237,000 |
2 |
28 |
India | 2,220 |
1 |
Rajshahi | 1,016,000 |
2 |
4 |
Bangladesh | 1,427 |
1 |
Ahvaz | 997,000 |
2 |
7 |
Iran | 5,460 |
3 |
Shimkent | 360,100 |
1 |
4 |
Kazakhstan | 4,215 |
2 |
Jalna | 244,523 |
1 |
158 |
India | 2,220 |
1 |
Gorgan | 188,710 |
1 |
33 |
Iran | 5,460 |
3 |
Saidpur | 114,000 |
1 |
25 |
Bangladesh | 1,427 |
1 |
City Name |
Population 2000 |
Size Class |
Rank |
Country Name |
GNP/cap. in PPP ($) |
Income Class |
Metro Manila | 10,900,000 |
4 |
1 |
Philippines | 3,668 |
2 |
Bangkok | 7,281,000 |
4 |
1 |
Thailand | 5,846 |
3 |
Hi Chi Minh City | 4,615,000 |
4 |
1 |
Vietnam | 1,854 |
1 |
Singapore | 3,567,000 |
3 |
1 |
Singapore | 21,832 |
4 |
Bandung | 3,409,000 |
3 |
2 |
Indonesia | 2,807 |
1 |
Medal | 1,879,000 |
3 |
4 |
Indonesia | 2,807 |
1 |
Palembang | 1,422,000 |
2 |
5 |
Indonesia | 2,807 |
1 |
Kuala Lumpur | 1,378,000 |
2 |
5 |
Malaysia | 8,217 |
3 |
Cebu | 718,821 |
2 |
10 |
Philippines | 3,668 |
2 |
Ipoh | 566,211 |
2 |
2 |
Malaysia | 8,217 |
3 |
Bacolod | 429,076 |
1 |
7 |
Philippines | 3,668 |
2 |
Songkhla | 342,475 |
1 |
2 |
Thailand | 5,846 |
3 |
City Name |
Population 2000 |
Size Class |
Rank |
Country Name |
GNP/cap. in PPP ($) |
Income Class |
Addis Ababa | 2,639,000 |
3 |
1 |
Ethiopia | 648 |
1 |
Johannesburg | 2,335,000 |
3 |
2 |
South Africa | 8,667 |
3 |
Accra | ,976,000 |
3 |
1 |
Ghana | 1,804 |
1 |
Harare | 1,752,000 |
3 |
1 |
Zimbabwe | 2,372 |
1 |
Ibadan | 1,731,000 |
3 |
3 |
Nigeria | 808 |
1 |
Pretoria | 1,508,000 |
3 |
4 |
South Africa | 8,667 |
3 |
Kampala | 1,212,000 |
2 |
1 |
Uganda | 1,164 |
1 |
Bamako | 1,131,000 |
2 |
1 |
Mali | 683 |
1 |
Ouagadougou | 1,130,000 |
2 |
1 |
Burkina Faso | 931 |
1 |
Ndola | 568,600 |
2 |
3 |
Zambia | 715 |
1 |
Banjul | 399,386 |
1 |
1 |
Gambia | 1,542 |
1 |
Kigali | 351,400 |
1 |
1 |
Rwanda | 1,019 |
1 |
City Name |
Population 2000 |
Size Class |
Rank |
Country Name |
GNP/cap. in PPP ($) |
Income Class |
Istanbul | 9,451,000 |
4 |
1 |
Turkey | 5,731 |
3 |
Tel Aviv-Jaffa | 2,181,000 |
3 |
1 |
Israel | 18,895 |
4 |
Baku | 1,936,000 |
3 |
1 |
Azerbaidjan | 2,358 |
1 |
Sana'a | 1,653,300 |
3 |
1 |
Yemen | 760 |
1 |
Yerevan | 1,406,765 |
2 |
1 |
Armenia | 2,222 |
1 |
Kuwait City | 1,190,000 |
2 |
1 |
Kuwait | 14,471 |
3 |
Malatya | 437,000 |
1 |
14 |
Turkey | 5,731 |
3 |
Zugdidi | 104,947 |
1 |
6 |
Georgia | 1,722 |
1 |